Day One - Arrive Lima
Your holiday in Peru begins as you arrive in Lima on an evening flight. You will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel in the trendy Miraflores area of the city in time to take a walk around the elegant Parque Kennedy and perhaps to take in an evening meal on your first night in Peru. Of course, if you're feeling up to it then Miraflores is a great place for a night out...
Day Two - Pachacamac
After breakfast, we will take you out of a Lima for a guided tour of the sacred city of Pachacamac - some of the most important pre-columbian ruins in South America. In the afternoon we can either leave you with some free time to explore or we can arrange a guided tour of the colonial centre for you.
Day Three - Ica and Huacachina
Today you will catch a morning coach along the Pan-american highway to Ica, south of Lima. We will take you to your hotel and from there you will be able to visit Ica's great regional museum or perhaps just relax at the desert lagoon of Huacachina.
Day Four - Ica to Nazca
After another morning relaxing, your holiday in Peru continues as we take you by coach to the desert town of Nazca. You'll arrive in plenty of time to explore the town before getting a good night's sleep for an early start tomorrow...
Day Five - Flight over the Nazca Lines
To ensure optimum conditions (and optimum photos!) you'll need to get up early this morning for us to take you to the airstrip for your flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines. Experienced and knowledgable pilots will make sure you get the most out of this intriguing spectacle. In the afternoon you will return to Nazca and then in the evening we'll take the overnight coach to the White City of Arequipa.
Day Six - Arequipa: Jewel of the South
You will arrive in the early morning in Arequipa - 'The White City'. This is probably the most beautiful city in Peru - a kind of Seville at the foot of a snow-capped volcano! You will arrive in the early morning and we will meet you at the bus station to take you to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day free to rest or to visit some of the fantastic sights in Arequipa such as the monastery of Santa Catalina.
Day Seven - Colca Canyon
Set out from Arequipa on a guided tour of Colca Canyon. The Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon and is home to a stunning array of wildlife and also some great natural hot springs! You will stay overnight in a hotel in Chivay, a small town right in the middle of the Canyon, where you can enjoy some traditional music and food.
Day Eight - Back to Arequipa
A very early start this morning, as your guide and driver take you to the 'Cruz del Condor', a natural viewpoint opposite the nesting-sites of the famous Andean Condors. We'll arrive in time to see these majestic birds launch themselves into the Canyon as they set out on their day's hunt. After spending more time in the Canyon, you will return to Arequipa in the evening to enjoy some of its superb andean cuisine (can we recommend the stuffed peppers!?!) in one of the restaurants overlooking the bustling and beautiful main square.
Day Nine - Travel to Puno
This morning we will take you to the bus station to catch the coach to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Many people find the elevation a little hard to handle at first so you may just want to rest up in your hotel and then have a wander around the town, so you will have the rest of the day free to get used to the altitude - we recommend you try the coca tea: it's natural, it works and it's definitely the Real Peru!
Day Ten - Lake Titicaca
Today you will leave your hotel in the morning for an all-day trip out onto Lake Titicaca. You will get the chance to visit the floating reed islands and also the stunning 'real' island of Taquile, with its Inca ruins and traditional textiles. The lake is truly a very special place and as you feel the sense of peace and tranquility you get out in the middle of the lake you can understand why it became the focal point for successive Andean religions. If you'd like to really experience the lake then why not ask us about staying overnight with a local family on Amantani?
Day Eleven - Free time in Puno
This morning you will have some free time in Puno to explore local sites like the Sillustani funeral chimneys or perhaps just to explore the local market - it's the perfect place to pick up those alpaca scarves...
Day Twelve - Along the Andes to Cuzco
Today you will catch a coach right along the Andes as your holiday in Peru continues. As well as the fantastic scenery, you will stop at some interesting Inca sites along the way before you arrive in the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, where we will take to your hotel just off the main square.
Day Thirteen - City tour of Cuzco
Today will be spent on a tour of the main sites in the city itself, and also in the surrounding hills. You will visit the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the temple complex at Kenko, Tambomachay and many other unique and beautiful locations. You will have the evening free to relax and enjoy a meal overlooking the lively central square.
Day Fourteen - Free day in Cuzco
We've given you a free day in Cuzco here. There's loads to do and you should be pretty used to the altitude by now so you should be able to really explore the city - our 'PeruPack' will help you find all the best places!
Day Fifteen - the Sacred Valley of the Incas
A full day away from Cuzco today as you journey into the Andes for a tour of the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba. As you wind your way along one of the beautiful valleys in the world, you will be able to visit the village of Pisac (including its famous market and temple) and the temple-fortress of Ollantaytambo. You really begin to feel the spirit of the Incas as you visit these extraordinary locations. But in many ways this is just preparation for...
Day Sixteen - Machu Picchu
In many ways today is the climax to your holiday in Peru. You will set off early in the morning to take the scenic train along the valley of the Urubamba to Machu Picchu, giving you the full afternoon at this breathtaking lost Inca city. Gazing down on this semi-mythical city, high up in the cloud forest is an unforgettable experience that will stay with you forever. You will stay overnight at a hotel in Aguas Calientes, at the foot of the mountain, so you can relax in the town's famous hot springs.
Day Seventeen - Extra time at Machu Picchu
Today you will have the opportunity to revisit Machu Picchu, and to make sure you explored every corner of this unique site. Perhaps today might be a good opportunity to climb up to the sun-gate, or to visit the watch-tower on Wayna Picchu from where you will get an unparalleled view of the site. You will return by train to Cuzco in the evening.
Days Eighteen to Twenty-One - Into the Jungle in the Manu Biosphere Reserve
No rest for the wicked! Today your holiday in Peru takes a walk on the wild side as you set off for a journey deep into the Amazon rainforest of the Manu biosphere reserve. The Amazonian rainforest is deserving of any superlatives you'd like to apply, and Manu is probably the best, and most unspoilt region of it. Our expert guides will make sure you don't miss a thing on this fantastic four-day trip staying in jungle lodges and taking trips on foot and by boat out into the jungle itself.
Day Twenty-two - R & R in Cuzco
You will have a free morning in Cuzco to relax after your rainforest trip and then we will pick you up and take you to the airport for your flight back to Lima. We will take you back to your hotel in Miraflores, where you can relax and enjoy your last night on holiday in Peru. If you haven't already, tonight might be your last chance to try Peru's national dish: ceviche!
Day Twenty-three: Last Day on holiday in Peru!
You will have a pretty much full day to explore the capital and enjoy its museums (or its shops!) before being picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport for your international flight back to the UK.
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